A vocational rehabilitation intervention for young adults with physical disabilities: participants' perception of beneficial attributes

Authors: Bai, M. I., Sattoe, J. N. T., Schaardenburgh van, N. R., Floothuis, M. C. S. G., Roebroeck, M. E., & Miedema, H. S.
Year Published 2017
Publication Child: Care, Health and Development
Volume 43
Number 1
Pages 114-125
Publisher Wiley Online Library
Background

This study explores the barriers and facilitators that young adults with physical disabilities experienced while finding and maintaining employment after an intervention program that supports work participation.

Purpose

To ascertain the participant-perceived beneficial attributes of the program and participants' recommendations for additional components.

Setting

Semi-structured interviews with former intervention participants, which were recorded and transcribed.

Sample

Young adults with disabilities (n= 19) that formerly participated in the study.

Data Collection

Data was extracted from the clients' charts and logged in a digital data extraction form. The following background characteristics were reviewed from the charts: age, gender, medical diagnosis, educational level and type of education.

Control

There was no control for this study.

Findings

Physical functions and capacities, supervisor's attitude, self-esteem and self-efficacy and openness and assertiveness were experienced barriers and facilitators for finding and maintaining employment. Improvement of self-promoting skills and disclosure skills through job interview-training, increased self-esteem or self-efficacy through peer-support, a suitable job through job placement, improvement of work ability through arrangement of adjusted work conditions and change of supervisor's attitude through education provided to the supervisor were perceived as beneficial attributes of the program.

Conclusions

Findings suggest that programs supporting work participation should provide real-world experiential opportunities that allow young adults with physical disabilities to develop new insights, self-efficacy and life skills.

URL http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/cch.12407/full
Disabilities No specific disability
Populations Male & Female
Outcomes Employment acquisition
NIDILRR Funded No
Research Design Case reports
Peer Reviewed Yes